This beautiful area was opened to the whole world in 2014 by Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality as Europe’s largest life park with an area of 2 thousand decares. The life park consists of 12 sections in total.
- Forest Village (Hobbit Houses)
- Forest Library
- Voice of the Forest
- Bird Observation Area
- Nature School
- Children’s Zoo
- Wildlife Area
- Insect Hotel
- Nature Trails
- Ponds
- Campsite
- Recreation Area
1 – FOREST VILLAGE: Ormanya Hobbit Houses
These tiny hobbit houses, which attract the most attention of visitors, are really worth seeing. We visited all of Forest Village but this place is usually the most crowded. For this reason, our advice to those who want to take photos here is to visit Forest Village early in the morning and visit here first, because it gets crowded during the day.
So why does this place attract so much attention?
Forest Village; Because it is home to the place where the film “Gamonya”, which children love very much, was shot and we think it is very similar to the Shire Hobbit Land in J.R.Tolkien’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ series; and of course, with its very sweet, fairy-tale appearance, it has become the centre of attention and photo stop for visitors of all ages…
PHOTO TIP
In order to stand out in the photos, especially for women, we recommend you to choose light coloured clothes 🤗 white and beige tones, yellow etc… You can click for sample dresses.
Is Accommodation in Hobbit Houses?
The forest village where the hobbit houses are located is a small village consisting of 9-10 houses. You cannot stay in the houses here. However, if you want to stay in such a house; There are hotels with this kind of hobbit house concept. You can click to see these hotels.
While you are here, do not leave without visiting this fairy-tale, forest village with fascinating views
2 – FOREST LIBRARY: This Library is in the Heart of Nature
We claim that you have never read a book anywhere more beautiful than here, you will not be able to. This library with a capacity of 200 people, which has more than 3 thousand books in 21 different categories from current publications to novels, offers you a different experience by reading books in the open air, among the sounds of birds, right in the forest.
Interesting Story of Forest Library and Reading Rooms
You may have wondered how the bookcases in such a beautiful library were built, let us tell you right away: During the reign of Sultan Abdülhamit Khan, Selim Sırrı Pasha had the 120-year-old sycamores planted by Selim Sırrı Pasha, which were destroyed in disasters such as storms, and we are sure that not only students but also you nature lovers will be especially interested in these column bookcases.
The library consists of 3 reading rooms called “Oak”, “Hornbeam” and “Beech” and a main square; hammock, pear seating group, amphitheatre, benches, swing, rocking chair and a high net area where you can lie down.
Do you ever read a book in the middle of the forest in the rain? Yes, you can read a book under the rain in this library!
The library, where people of all ages read books in the open air among the sounds of birds, can also serve book lovers in all seasons thanks to its indoor spaces to be created with transparent area coating. You can go inside the inflatable transparent balloon tents, watch the rain and the trees, and read a book at the same time.
TIP
The prices at the kiosk in the park are very reasonable, either buy a drink here or bring your own thermos with hot coffee and enjoy the moment while sipping your coffee. If you do not have a thermos that can keep hot/cold for a long time, you can check the thermoses we use on our trips here.
3 – VOICE OF THE FOREST : Be Quiet, Listen to Nature!
Greeted by a 7-metre tall “Forest Man” with the sign “There is no internet in the forest, but I promise you will find a better connection.”, visitors can listen to the sounds of nature more intensely thanks to the megaphones here.
For example; Have you ever wondered how giraffes hear the surrounding sounds at the height of their long necks? Here is a place where you can experience exactly this 🦒 This is a place where you can listen to how a giraffe hears or what an elephant can hear with its huge ears, listen to the sounds of birds in the forest, whisper to each other from under the ground, where there is a nornaphone. It is even possible to take your martenchka out here, why not see a stork. There were people who saw a stork here and their wristbands were hung on the tree, we hope their wishes came true.
🕊 What is Marteniçka? Marteniçka is a wish bracelet made by tangling white and red threads. While wearing this bracelet, a wish is made and then tied to the wrist. It is not removed from the wrist until a stork appears again. In order for the wish to come true, the person wearing this bracelet must take it off when they see a Stork and tie it to a flowering tree or plant. If you like it, click here to buy it.
4 – BIRD OBSERVATION AREA : Your eyes will witness the life of birds
In the bird observation area, you will find many bird species such as nuthatches, finches, woodpeckers, small and large titmice, starlings, red-throated, yellowthroat, nightingale, goldfinch, you will not believe the variety of birds here.
You can closely observe the lives of birds in nests placed in nature, in trees. Thanks to the cameras placed in these nests, you can observe the life of the birds in the nest on the website of Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality.
You can observe birds live on the internet. Sometimes you can even witness the relentless struggle of birds against predators to protect their nests. For example, in a video obtained from a nest, the mother bird, who wants to protect her babies from a 1 metre long checkered water snake trying to enter the nest, is removed from the nest with the intervention of the mother bird.
This is an environment where you will watch a live documentary, so do not pass by without taking a look.
